The roster mania has begun, and the top North American teams have made significant roster moves. Team Liquid has benched Casper “cadiaN” Møller following a challenging season filled with disappointments.
cadiaN Benched: Star Player Issues
After four years with Heroic, where cadiaN built a title-contending team, his move to Liquid promised a fresh start. Unfortunately, reports indicate that the star players did not fully support his tactical decisions.
Despite making playoff runs at ESL Pro League and IEM Chengdu, rumors around IEM Dallas hinted at his potential departure. Consequently, cadiaN now finds himself on Liquid’s bench.
More Changes for Team Liquid
Alongside the announcement about cadiaN, reports have emerged that Furia is negotiating for Felipe “skullz” Medeiros. This means Liquid might make two simultaneous moves, leaving the team without an AWPer and an IGL.
Finding someone to fill both roles is challenging, especially outside of the Liquid classic, where Nick “nitr0” Cannella recently took a break from m80’s Valorant roster.
While some fans and experts speculate about a potential “superteam” return for Liquid, it seems unlikely. Veteran journalist Richard Lewis shared information that Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken might step up as the unlikely IGL.
With Wilton “Zews” Prada also potentially leaving, this situation resembles past takeovers by Yekindar and Stewie2k. Only time will tell if these changes will bring better results.
G2 Benches nexa
After just over six months, G2 has decided to bench Nemanja “nexa” Isaković. This move follows a disappointing season, with a stand-in fueled IEM Dallas being the only highlight. Given m0NESY’s excellent form, this could be the start of a team worthy of its superstar.
nexa in G2: A Solid Rifler in a Flawed Team
From the beginning, replacing Justin “jks” Savage with nexa seemed like a mistake. With jks, G2 had won both IEM Cologne and IEM Katowice. However, G2 never utilized nexa in key roles, and the team failed to find a winning formula. Despite his good performance, nexa now finds himself benched through no fault of his own.
In his words: “No more good vibes… jokes aside, on the bench as of today in @G2esports. Thank you for the last 6 months, it was a pleasure to be here again. With that being said I’m still eager and ready to play the next season and open to offers in any role.”
G2 Needs a Major Overhaul
The current roster construction of G2 simply doesn’t work. With m0NESY as the best player in the world and NiKo as his reliable rifler, the team lacks depth. If G2 only replaces nexa with another rifler without making deeper changes, failure is almost certain.
Even the rumored addition of Mario “malbsMd” Samayoa might not be enough. A third star player and a better support system for m0NESY are crucial.
Conclusion
G2 and Team Liquid are at a crucial juncture, restructuring their rosters. These roster moves could redefine their success in the upcoming CS2 season. With players like cadiaN and nexa benched and potential new additions on the horizon, these teams are seeking the perfect combination to return to the top.